Page 17 of Friend Me

6

As the hoursbefore the wedding weekend ticked by, Cooper seemed…off.

Through the open door of his office, I watched him frown at his computer screen without touching the keyboard or mouse. His phone had rung several times, but he hadn’t picked it up. Kim, the clueless temp, kept sending the calls anyway.

An anticipatory silence covered the sixth floor. The day before, Alicia and Jackson had left for the vineyard to finish the preparations on site. None of the other executives had come in; they were turning the wedding festivities into a three-day weekend. And the support staff were waiting for the clock to tick to noon to call it a day.

I’d made my own plan, written it in Sharpie on a piece of lined steno paper. I didn’t bother to open my drawer to reread it since I’d memorized the simple list.

Dance with Cooper at the wedding.

Act as Cooper’s assistant during Jackson’s honeymoon. Work late. Bond over takeout.

Kiss Cooper Fallon.

Small, simple milestones, just as Alicia, the most organized person I knew, recommended. It started with a touch—I’d borrowed that from my parents’ story—and it ended with a kiss. The camera focus would soften, the violins would soar, woodland creatures would congregate to serenade us. Okay, maybe not that, but it’d be a True Love’s Kiss. Complete with sparks.

And then we’d live happily ever after.

His line rang. Again. Before the temp could pick it up and send it to Cooper, still frozen at his desk, I answered.

“Cooper Fallon’s office. Marlee Rice speaking.”

“Oh, Marlee, thank God. I didn’t think I was ever going to get through. It’s Jamila. Can you have him call me when he has a minute? I’m having a small crisis here.” She chuckled, like she ate crises for breakfast.

I wished I hadn’t picked up.

Then again, maybe the crisis was that she couldn’t go to the wedding after all. Leaving Cooper date-free.

“Sure thing.” After I hung up, I walked to Cooper’s door. “Hey. You okay?”

He startled, actually jumped in his chair. “Shit, what time is it?”

“Don’t worry, it’s not even noon. But are you all right? You seem…distracted.”

He blinked at me. “I’m fine.”

“Nothing you want to talk about?”

“I’m good.” The hard lines of his face softened. “Really.”

I bit my lip.Somethingwas bothering him. If only he’d tell me. I wished I could ask him about Jamila. But the question stuck in my throat.

“How are you?” he asked. “Ready for this weekend?”

You bet I am.“I don’t have to do anything hard. Just smooth out the back of her dress at the start of the ceremony.”

“And make sure she shows up.” He glanced out the window as he chuckled.

“I don’t think there’s any danger of a runaway bride. Or groom. They’re soul mates.” I sighed. “Just like my mother and dad.”

“How is Will? Is he coming?”

“No, I thought a full weekend would be too much for Dad.” Though he was doing better lately. Maybe he’d just messed up his meds that day he’d tried to climb the ladder.

“Too bad. I always enjoy talking to him about physics.”

“And he loves talking to you.” Two weeks ago, when I’d brought Dad to Jackson and Alicia’s wedding shower, I’d found Dad and Cooper talking about quantum mechanics. Cooper hadn’t blinked an eye when Dad couldn’t come up with the termFeynman diagram;he’d just supplied it and kept chatting about bosons. And that was when I knew it was time to finally act on my crush. Not many men would accept a partner who came as a package deal with Dad and his health issues. But I knew Cooper would.

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